The Initial course is designed for beginners or those who have some experience of leading singing and conducting. This course focuses on developing a solid foundation of knowledge, incorporating:
- Leadership skills (technique and gesture)
- Rehearsal techniques
- Understanding the voice
- Planning and preparation
Course Delivery
During each training day, there are technical sessions where conducting skills and leadership techniques are demonstrated by the course tutor, and then practiced in a group context. These are then followed by sessions with individual podium time for each conductor. Plenary sessions exploring topics such as score preparation, sourcing repertoire, vocal health and warm ups also form an essential part of the course.
We provide video footage from each session to participants so that they can continue their learning in between training weekends.
Course content
Leadership skills
- Posture and body language
- Warm ups for conductors and singers
- Starting and stopping sound
- Basic beat patterns
- Size, shape, quality of patterns/gestures and their influence on sound
- Communicating with singers, in warm ups and rehearsals, using gesture instead of words
Rehearsal techniques
- How to communicate with your choir and lead efficient and enjoyable rehearsals
- Planning a rehearsal that has good pacing and effective direction
- Vocal demonstrations
- Teaching warm up exercises and rounds
- Exploring different learning styles
- Attention to text and diction
- Identifying errors and how to overcome them
Understanding the voice
- Applying useful and relevant warm ups with specific aims:
- Physical
- Posture
- Vocal flexibility
- Connecting breath to sound
- Elements of musicianship
- Developing a unified choral sound and sense of choral belonging
Planning and preparation
- How to prepare a score successfully
- Effective and efficient rehearsal strategies in order to achieve musical goals
- Guidance on choosing suitable repertoire and where to find it